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Spurrier predicts Lattimore will be able to play football again

Coach says Lattimore's right knee dislocated

Marcus Lattimore

South Carolina running back Marcus Lattimore is comforted by the training staff after injuring his knee in the second quarter against Tennessee on Saturday, October 27, 2012, at Williams-Brice Stadium in Columbia, South Carolina. (Gerry Melendez/The State/MCT)

Last Modified: Sunday, October 28, 2012 at 3:29 p.m.

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The junior running back suffered a horrific right knee injury during USC's 38-35 win over Tennessee on Saturday and some feared his career might be over, but Spurrier said during Sunday's teleconference he expects the former Byrnes star to return to the football field again at some point down the road.

“I think the prognosis is he can come back and play,” Spurrier said. “It's going to take a while, obviously, to recover and rehab this, but Marcus had a good attitude today. We saw him and talked to him. He knows what the road ahead is, and we're all hoping and praying he'll be back.”

USC released a statement Sunday evening saying that the significant impact of the hit to Lattimore's knee by Tennessee's Eric Gordon caused a hyperextension of the knee which resulted in “injury to several ligaments.” The statement went on to say that “there were no fractures or additional injuries.”

The statement contradicted a rumor that was circulating Saturday night, proclaiming Lattimore to have suffered a broken femur and patella in addition to four torn ligaments.

Spurrier said the injury was similar to the one freshman T.J. Gurley suffered against Florida last week.

“The knee sort of pops out of place. A dislocation. They got it back in quickly, though,” Spurrier said. “Dr. Guy felt pretty good that it was in quickly.”

The release added that Lattimore is resting comfortably and will continue to be evaluated over the course of the week, adding he has already begun the process of prehabilitation prior to surgery and to his eventual return to football.

Spurrier said that while there's a chance Lattimore could play in 2013, there's also a chance he may not be able to return to the field until the 2014 season.

“He wasn't redshirted. He has two years to play one. What the time frame of this knee requires I think we'll have to wait and see,” Spurrier said. “We're optimistic that his football days are still ahead of him. There's been a history of guys coming back and playing from this type of injury according to Dr. Guy.”

One such player who has returned from a devastating knee injury is Denver Broncos running back Willis McGahee.

The former Miami standout ripped up his knee in his final collegiate game and some questioned whether he'd be able to return. So far in his NFL career, McGahee has had four seasons of at least 1,000 yards.

“There's been guys that have come back from this type of injury and played for a long time,” Spurrier said.

Spurrier added that he has yet to discuss with Lattimore his thoughts on returning to USC or if he may want to test out the NFL.

“Marcus speaks for himself. I don't speak for Marcus,” he said. “Marcus will make his own decision as far as what happens down the road.”

The university announced Sunday evening that today the school will host a “Happy Birthday and Get Well Marcus” event at the Horseshoe on campus. USC players will speak, as will Spurrier and school president Harris Pastides, The event is free and open to the public and will take place at 5 p.m.

Pastides posted on Twitter that the event will be streamed live to Lattimore.

This gesture is one of many that have taken place since Lattimore's injury.

Georgia coach Mark Richt confirmed during his teleconference Sunday that his team prayed for Lattimore following its victory over Florida on Saturday.

“We prayed for him as a team. As we were just kind of closing out the day, we thought about him, and just what a warrior he is,” Richt said. “What a great football player and what a great competitor, and a guy we all have a lot of respect for, as a person as well. We all know how an injury like that is just very difficult to deal with, so we wanted to pray for him and his family, so we did that.”

Many athletes took to Twitter on Saturday to offer encouraging words and that continued on Sunday as NBA star LeBron James tweeted “Feel awful for Marcus Lattimore. Sad. Really hope he recovers fully!! #BigTimePlayer.”

Spurrier said the outpouring of support shows what the country thinks about Lattimore and added that he's probably the most popular football player ever at South Carolina.

“He's a special young man that everybody appreciates. He's just such a well-respected young man,” Spurrier said. “He is the most popular Gamecock to ever be around here. Good things are going to happen to him in his life.”

<p>It likely won't be anytime soon, but South Carolina head coach Steve Spurrier expects Marcus Lattimore to return to the football field.</p><p>The junior running back suffered a horrific right knee injury during USC's 38-35 win over Tennessee on Saturday and some feared his career might be over, but Spurrier said during Sunday's teleconference he expects the former Byrnes star to return to the football field again at some point down the road.</p><p>“I think the prognosis is he can come back and play,” Spurrier said. “It's going to take a while, obviously, to recover and rehab this, but Marcus had a good attitude today. We saw him and talked to him. He knows what the road ahead is, and we're all hoping and praying he'll be back.”</p><p>USC released a statement Sunday evening saying that the significant impact of the hit to Lattimore's knee by Tennessee's Eric Gordon caused a hyperextension of the knee which resulted in “injury to several ligaments.” The statement went on to say that “there were no fractures or additional injuries.” </p><p>The statement contradicted a rumor that was circulating Saturday night, proclaiming Lattimore to have suffered a broken femur and patella in addition to four torn ligaments.</p><p>Spurrier said the injury was similar to the one freshman T.J. Gurley suffered against Florida last week.</p><p>“The knee sort of pops out of place. A dislocation. They got it back in quickly, though,” Spurrier said. “Dr. Guy felt pretty good that it was in quickly.”</p><p>The release added that Lattimore is resting comfortably and will continue to be evaluated over the course of the week, adding he has already begun the process of prehabilitation prior to surgery and to his eventual return to football.</p><p>Spurrier said that while there's a chance Lattimore could play in 2013, there's also a chance he may not be able to return to the field until the 2014 season. </p><p>“He wasn't redshirted. He has two years to play one. What the time frame of this knee requires I think we'll have to wait and see,” Spurrier said. “We're optimistic that his football days are still ahead of him. There's been a history of guys coming back and playing from this type of injury according to Dr. Guy.”</p><p>One such player who has returned from a devastating knee injury is Denver Broncos running back Willis McGahee. </p><p>The former Miami standout ripped up his knee in his final collegiate game and some questioned whether he'd be able to return. So far in his NFL career, McGahee has had four seasons of at least 1,000 yards.</p><p>“There's been guys that have come back from this type of injury and played for a long time,” Spurrier said. </p><p>Spurrier added that he has yet to discuss with Lattimore his thoughts on returning to USC or if he may want to test out the NFL.</p><p>“Marcus speaks for himself. I don't speak for Marcus,” he said. “Marcus will make his own decision as far as what happens down the road.”</p><p>The university announced Sunday evening that today the school will host a “Happy Birthday and Get Well Marcus” event at the Horseshoe on campus. USC players will speak, as will Spurrier and school president Harris Pastides, The event is free and open to the public and will take place at 5 p.m.</p><p>Pastides posted on Twitter that the event will be streamed live to Lattimore.</p><p>This gesture is one of many that have taken place since Lattimore's injury. </p><p>Georgia coach Mark Richt confirmed during his teleconference Sunday that his team prayed for Lattimore following its victory over Florida on Saturday.</p><p>“We prayed for him as a team. As we were just kind of closing out the day, we thought about him, and just what a warrior he is,” Richt said. “What a great football player and what a great competitor, and a guy we all have a lot of respect for, as a person as well. We all know how an injury like that is just very difficult to deal with, so we wanted to pray for him and his family, so we did that.”</p><p>Many athletes took to Twitter on Saturday to offer encouraging words and that continued on Sunday as NBA star LeBron James tweeted “Feel awful for Marcus Lattimore. Sad. Really hope he recovers fully!! #BigTimePlayer.”</p><p>Spurrier said the outpouring of support shows what the country thinks about Lattimore and added that he's probably the most popular football player ever at South Carolina.</p><p>“He's a special young man that everybody appreciates. He's just such a well-respected young man,” Spurrier said. “He is the most popular Gamecock to ever be around here. Good things are going to happen to him in his life.”</p>